Wish I was out there, Allen, since things have been slow for me here! That's changing a bit as I've been getting some rackup and other custom work from out of town.
Anyway, if you're going after an MTR-90, be SURE it's a Mark III. The two that I care for here have been excellent once they got Athan rubber pucks on them. There's a Mark I here that has been a bit of a problem child, but it's chugging along OK with very light usage. By the MK III, Otari sorted many problems out.
I've been impressed by a Studer A-80 MK IV and an A-800 MK III that are in studios in my area. Not too many problems, with the most irritating being the tension sensor pots on the A-80.
Ampex MM-1200 is a possibility, especially later mdoels with the constant tension kit. The 1200 was basically a "bug fix" for the MM-1100!
The Ampex MM-1000 was a good machine, but 24 track versions are very rare. Most sold were 16 track in that era.
Other possibilities I've worked with is the 3M M-79 and the Stephens.
Bri